Liquid meter



May' '6, 1941.

' 'F. HoRToN LIQUID METER Filed July 26, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F. HORTON LIQUID METER May 6, 1941.y

Filed July 26, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 6, 1941 l SL'TES r.PATENT -FFCE T j f' g l Lioillilrsesn l Foreign Rights (Precision Meters) Limited, London, England Y application July 26,1938, serial No. 221,429

In Great Britain August 125.1937

`s claims. (o1. 'za-.253)

This invention relates to liquid meters of the displacement or positive orsemi-positive type and has forl its object to provide an improved form of meter which isc-fl simple construction and in which thel parts may be readily and accurately manufactured and wherein-the calibration ofthe deviceY may :be effected in a simple man-ner.

The invention consists inV a liquid meter comprising rotor or piston yelements (preferably apair), each rotatable in a cylinder andh-aving a radial vane extending to the cylinder Wall, oscillatable partition means engaging eachv piston piston.

The invention also consists in a liquidmeter comprising rotor or piston elements (preferably a i pairjeachrotatable in a cylinder and having a radial vane extending tothe wall of thecylinder, a pressure port opening into a0 pressure chamber communicating with the cylinder, and a discharge port opening-into! the cylinder, oscillatable partition means engaging the piston and separating the pressure and discharge side ofr the cylinder, the vane on one piston being relativelydisplaeed to that on the other piston. I

` FurtherY features of the invention Willbe hereinafter described and'denedin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l Vis a longitudinal section of meter according to the invention,

Figure L2 is a cross section, Y Figure 3 isl apross section of` the inner block showing the-inlet 4anddischarge ports and chambers,

"Figure lis a longitudinal section of a calibrating l"and 4temp'era-ture Acontrolling device.

*In carrying the invention-1into` effect according toon-e convenientlmode,-aeentral block Mlis provieeufto-fthe opposite rasee er which a pairof a liquid cylinder funits -ll "and E12 are-secured. The central y block-fie* is? provided `With-inlet and` discharge charrrbrsfl 3`landl di respectively, having pipe connectionslfand lof'. The inlet chamber I3 opens into side ports il' and l8- While the discharge chamber ispr'ovidedwithside ports I9 andiZil.

Theiportsiare arranged at appropriate positionsl inside wallsflf of the central block.

The cylinder units areprovided With chambers 22, i3 of circular cross section which at one side open: into crescent or other suitably shaped chambers 24, 25 which accommodate oscillating partitions 216, 21,*:Theinlet ports Il. and I8 open into the. chambers V2llvand 125V respectively While the dischargeports. l and 2i) open respectively into the cylinders22 and 23. End closingcover` plates 32Y and 33 close the cylinders and form Walls thereof.

The partitions 26 and 2l are freely mountedto oscilla-te upon a spindle 28 Which extends through an aperture. 23 in the central block.

Each partition is formed as a plate having end` iianges 3u and is provided with a nose portion 3l adaptedtoA engage the surface of the piston.

The partitionsiand nosepieces extend complete.

ly across the cylinders to engage the Walls of the cylinders formed by the Walls 2l and end closing` u cover plates 32, 33.

The partitions are each provided with a boss 34 engaging the Wall of a recess 35 opening into the valve chamber. i

The cylinders are provided With rotors or rotary pistons Whichare secured to a common spindle 36 extending through an opening 38 in the central portion of the block and mounted in bearings 31. Each piston is formed in two parts 39 and 49, the part 39 having a sleeve 39a by which the piston is keyed` to the spindle 36. The other part-40 is mounted upon theI sleeve 39aV and is capable oi rotary movement relatively thereto, a nut M on the screwed endof the sleeve 39a locking the parts together.

The cross section of the piston is circular and mounted on the outside of each part of the piston is one of a pair of projections or cams 42 forming. a radial vane. Each cam extends the full width of the cylinder. The piston is arranged concen-' trically Within the cylinder and the cam i2 eX- tends radially to the Wall of the cylinder. These vane projections or cams 42 are formed with a surface conforming to the curved surface of the piston and are bolted thereto by bolts i3 extending through holes in the piston wail, suitably shaped Washer elements 44 being provided Within the piston for the heads of the nuts to seat on. The arrangement is such that the projectionsor cams 42 may be spaced apart so that the eective capacity of the cylinder may be adjusted whereby the meter may be calibrated. In View of the relatively simple construction of the cylinderand piston itis anticipated that the necessary adjustment for calibration Will be of a small order.

The adjustment of the cam projections relatively to one another is effected by an eccentric 45 mounted upon the part 39 of the piston 'and seating Within an aperture 4t in the other part. On rotating the eccentric 455 rst slacking back the nut 4I, relative rotational movement is im- ,parted' tothe piston parts with consequent spacing of the cam parts or moving them together. After adjustment the nut 4I is tightened and also the nut on the eccentric member.

The circumferential extent of the vane 42, 42 is such that when the piston moves to a position 180 from that shown in Figure 3 the vane eX- tends across the opening between the cylinder and the valve chamber so that pressure from the inlet port I1 is cut off from the cylinder.

As the piston rotates under the pressure of the liquid from the inlet port I1 acting against the vane, liquid on the discharge side will flow out of the po-rt I 9. Under these conditions Ythe partition 26 will be subject to a higher pressure on the inlet port side, thus holding it in contact with the piston and dividing the cylinder space.

When dealing with low pressures it may be'that the diierence in pressure, or the position of the meter, is such that the partition will not remain in contact with the piston and to counteract such conditions the partition is provided with a 'relativelylight spring |46 (Figure 2) which holds it in the desired position. The ,spring is connected to an adjustable pin 41 whereby its tension may bev adjusted.

The pistons are arranged on the spindle 35 so that the vanes 42 of one piston are displaced 180 relatively to those of the other piston so that when the vanes of one piston are in the position to cut off the pressure chamber from its cylinder, the vane of the other piston willbe under uid pressure so that the first-mentioned piston will be driven over the dead spot.

The end cover plates 32, 33 which form the walls of the cylinders and pressure chambers are provided with apertures 48 which are closed by caps 49 which may be removed for calibration purposes. i

In one cap 49 a spindle 56 is provided for an indicating and/or registering mechanism located within a suitable casing 5 I means being provided for coupling the spindle 5U to the spindle 36 of the pistons.

In operation, the parts being in the position indicated in Figure 2, liquid under pressure by a pump or otherwise passes through the inlet port I1 and enters the cylinder and exerts force on the radial vane 42 causing the piston to rotatek and force liquid on the other side of the vane out through the discharge port I9. As the vane approaches the discharge port it engages the partition and oscillates this over. When the piston vane occupies the dead spot the pressure is cut oii from the cylinder, i. e. when the vane moves over the edge 66 of the pressure chamber. The movement of the vane continues past the dead spot owing to the other piston so that the vane will move past the partition allowing the pressure of the liquid together with the force of the spring of the partition to cause the partition to follow the contour of the piston vane.

It will rbe appreciated that the disposition of the inlet and discharge ports and the dimensions of the partition and piston vanes are such that when the vane moves over the discharge port and actuates the partition there will be no through passage from the inlet to the discharge port.

The discharge ports are provided with a pore tion which extends into the partition chamber and is never covered by the piston vanes whereby locking of liquid on the discharge side between the piston vanes and partition is avoided.

According to a modied form each piston may be constructed in one. piece with a xed dimen- `sion vane and calibration effected by other 4volume of the meter cylinder chambers 22, 23.

By this means calibration of the meter may be made.

Conveniently the Calibrating cylinder 53 and piston 52 may be utilised as a temperature adjustment device adapted automatically to vary the volume of the meter cylinder chambers 22, 23 in accordance with changes of temperature in the liquid being metered.

For this purpose the Calibrating piston 52 is provided with two heads 52a, 52b adjustable towards one another. The piston heads are hollow and provided with cup members |60 connected together by a sylphon bellows 6I and having aperture 62 so that the interior of the sylphon bellows is in communication with the annular spaces between the cup |60 and the piston head.

The annular spaces within the piston heads and the interior of the sylphon bellows are lled with a quantity of the same liquid as that which is being measured. 'Ihe space 63 between the piston heads which extends between the sylphon bellows and the cups |60 communicates by the outlet 64 with the inlet side of the central block I0 of the meter so that the actual liquid being measured has access to these spaces and thus the temperature of the liquid will be imparted to the sealed liquid within the sylphon bellows and piston heads. On temperature Variations occurring the bellows 6I will extend or contract and thus move the piston heads relatively to one another and vary the stroke of the piston, whereby the volume of the meter cylinder chambers 22, 23 is varied in accordance with temperature variation.

Should it be desired to meter hot liquids a second connection to the inletside of the central block I0 is made by the aperture 65 in the cylinder 53 so that a circulation of the hot liquid is obtained. When metering normal temperature liquids the aperture 65 is closed by a plug.

The calibrating cylinder may be mounted on the meter casing in an;r convenient position.

The meter is adapted for operation under low pressure heads but may also be arranged for relatively high pressures by suitably designing the parts to withstand `the pressures desired. It may be used for various kinds of liquid, such. as lubricating oils, petrol, and consumable liquids such as milk. In the case of, consumable liquids the parts could be made of material such as stainless steel and the end covers would be mounted so that they may be readily removed for cleaning purposes.

The improved meter has a large metering capacity for its size and operating under a 10W head is suitable for use on aeroplanes and also petrol and Diesel oil wagon delivery.

I claim: l. A liquid meter comprising a pair of cylinders arranged side by side on a common axis, a piston element in each cylinder, said piston elements being `coupled to a common shaft, each of said piston elements having a radial part extending to the wall of the respective cylinder, said radial parts being diametrically opposed and having surfaces conforming to the curvature of the cylinder wall, oEset chambers opening into said cylinders partition means mounted for oscillation in said chambers and projecting into the cylinders to contact with the corresponding piston element, inlet ports for liquid to be metered opening into said chambers, discharge ports opening into the cylinders, said partition means separating the inlet and discharge ports of the associated cylinder and being movable into said chambers While still permitting the passage of liquid into the cylinder, the arrangement being such that the flow of liquid into the cylinder is cut oi once during each revolution of the piston elements by the radial part of the piston element covering the opening between the cylinder and its off set chamber.

2. A liquid meter comprising a pair of cylinders arranged side by side on a common axis, a piston element in each cylinder, said piston elements being coupled to a common shaft, each piston element comprising a main circular part 2 arranged concentric with the cylinder and a radial part extending to the cylinder wall and having a surface conforming to the curvature of said wall, said radial part of one piston element being diametrically opposed to the radial part of the other piston element, oscillatable partition elements engaging each piston element, inlet and discharge ports opening into each cylinder on opposite sides of the respective partition element, the inlet and discharge port of each cylinder being completely closed during each revolution of the respective piston element, the circumferential dimension of the radial extensions of the piston elements being adjustable to vary the effective Volume of the cylinders for Calibrating the meter.

3. A liquid meter as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of said radial parts of the piston elements is formed in two parts adjustable relatively to one another in a circumferential direction.

4. A liquid meter as claimed in claim 2 wherein each piston element is formed in two portions, and each radial part of the piston elements is formed in two parts, each of said portions of the piston elements carrying one of said parts of said radial part and means for rotating the portions of each piston element relatively to one another to adjust the circumferential dimension of the radial part.

5. A liquid meter as claimed' in claim 2 wherein each piston element is formed in two portions and each radial part of the pistons is formed in two parts, each of said portions of the piston elements carrying one of said parts of said radial part, a rotatably mounted eccentric carried by one of said piston element portions and engaging a recess in the other of said piston portions of each piston element, and means for rotating said eccentrics to rotate said piston element portions relatively to one another.

6. A liquid meter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the discharge ports are arranged in the side Walls of the cylinders and extend into said offset chambers for the purpose set forth.

FRANK HORTON. 

